Episode: 634

Episode Title: Meaning and Voice

Can mundane work have meaning? Let’s talk about that question and why it matters, next on The Perna Syndicate.

Ep 634 show:

Hello and welcome to The Perna Syndicate today! Recently at Forbes, I had the chance to cover new research that revealed a highly disengaged workforce. Almost half the people surveyed wouldn’t wish their job on their worst enemy, nor would they recommend their career to any young person they cared about. Yikes!

Yesterday I shared the first two tips that workforce expert Chris Mullen had for companies to combat this. First, show people how their work benefits others, and second, help them find their personal why for what they do. Today, here are two more: 

Leaders need to give meaning to everyday tasks by connecting them to the larger purpose of the company. Let’s be real, sometimes repetitive work can feel boring—no matter how necessary it is. 

Showing how these tasks are critical to the business gives meaning to responsibilities that can indeed feel mundane. It all connects back to the idea of how your work makes the world a better place for other people. 

Then, give employees the feeling of being heard. Without listening, how can we ever understand others’ needs, wants, and concerns? Leaders and managers who give employees a real voice can gain valuable insights to improve the employee experience.

Meaning and voice: these two elements are critical to a workplace that people actually want to be part of. I know I do!

Tomorrow: Don’t miss the last two tips for employers to become a workplace of choice in 2023. We’ll see you back here on the next episode of The Perna Syndicate. Until then, take care!